Healthy People 2010: What Can We Do to Shape the Objectives?


By Clay E. Simpson, Jr., MSPH, PhD


Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health


Office of Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services


Closing the Gap, Healthy People 2010 and Beyond • August/September 1998


How many times have we wondered: Can I really make a 

difference? Can one person’s voice have an impact on 

health improvement for millions of Americans? The answer 

is a definitive yes. 

Healthy People 2010 is a framework that enables us to work 

together as government and community leaders, health practitioners, 

educators, and concerned citizens. We’ve envisioned a society where 

health care is accessible to all Americans, regardless of race, ethnicity, 

age, gender or socioeconomic status. We’d like to lower the rates of 

diabetes, heart disease, and AIDS across the board, not just for certain 

segments of our population. We’d like to see all Americans take advantage of breakthrough drug therapies, immunizations and other preventive medicine in increasing numbers. We can no longer accept 

lower health status and a lower standard of care for a part of our 

population. But we can only achieve this vision with your help and 

your strong support. 

Why should you care about the Healthy People 2010 initiative? 

Because it is your future and your children’s future at stake; because 

when we say “healthy people” we’re talking about you. And, it is a 

personal issue for me because too many people think we can’t resolve 

these disparities. We even find health professionals and policymakers 

who still believe—from what they were taught in school years ago— 

these racial disparities in health are simply a matter of genetics. My 

response to them is: look at access to care, behavioral factors, education, poverty and racism. Those are the underlying causes. Let’s set 

the record straight. Now is our opportunity to play an active role in 

shaping the future of this nation’s health agenda—we must take advantage of it. 

On November 12-13, 1998 in Washington, D.C., HHS’s Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion will sponsor a Healthy 

People Consortium meeting for public comment on the draft Healthy 

People 2010 document. HHS regional offices will also host regional 

meetings on Healthy People 2010 between October and December 

1998. 

The draft document, to be released in September, will detail a set 

of 500 measurable and development objectives that we plan to work 

toward achieving by the year 2010. I urge you to take a stand for your 

health and your community’s health by participating in one form or 

another during this public comment period. 

HHS has established work groups for each Healthy People focus 

area. Individuals as well as community organizations are encouraged 

to assist lead agencies within HHS that have been designated to convene specific work groups. 

In a country that has demonstrated a commitment to seriously 

improving its health care systems, too many Americans are still plagued 

by treatable and preventable diseases and conditions—particularly 

minorities and other disadvantaged populations. Heart disease, HIV, 

infant mortality, diabetes are damaging our communities to a staggering degree. 

As we approach the new millennium and see the world around 

us changing, it is time to respond. People are living longer; we’re now 

seeing the number of racial and ethnic minorities rising steadily; the 

elderly population is on its way to being the largest age group in the 

nation; and medical technology is exploding. We must prepare ourselves for these changes—today! 

The Healthy People 2010 objectives are being developed with 

the understanding that we can not improve the health of all Americans unless we bring up those who lag behind. President Clinton’s 

Initiative to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities is at the 

very foundation of the Healthy People 2010 framework. That is our 

priority here at the Office of Minority Health—closing the gap in 

illness and death between minorities and other U.S. populations, and 

improving access to health care. 

In examining written public comments on Healthy People 2010 

last Fall, I was disappointed and discouraged by the lack of participation from our minority communities. I urge you to lend your expertise and concern for your community by commenting on the Healthy 

People 2010 draft this year. Let us know that you support the goal of 

eliminating health disparities. Read Valerie Welsh’s article on page 3 

and let us know how you think targets should be set. Make your voice 

count! Public comments will be accepted between September 15 and 

December 15, 1998. 

I also encourage everyone—from community and faith organizations, to schools and businesses—to use the Healthy People 2010 

framework to guide their health promotion efforts in their communities. The framework for the Healthy People 2010 initiative is in the 

public domain and can be retrieved on the Web site. 

Limited free copies of the Healthy People 2010 objectives will be 

available at the Office of Minority Health Resource Center by calling 1­

800-444-6472.

Office of Minority Health Resource Center U.S. Department of Health and Human Services